Saltsburg High School teacher arrested on rape charges

SALTSBURG — A Saltsburg High School shop teacher was arrested today in conjunction with more than a dozen charges relating to an alleged rape that occurred last year.

According to a criminal complaint, Todd Deven McCullough, 28, of Kiskimentas Township, Armstrong County, assaulted a then-16-year-old sophomore in a back room of the shop classroom in spring of 2012.

McCullough was charged with six felonies: two counts of rape/forcible compulsion, one count of sexual assault, sexual contact with a student and two counts of aggravated indecent assault.

In addition, he faces seven misdemeanor counts: corruption of minors, indecent exposure, harassment, disorderly conduct, open lewdness and two counts of indecent assault.

According to a criminal complaint, starting in April 2012, McCullough made inappropriate advances to the student in the shop classroom. His behavior eventually escalated into rape, according to police.

State police at Indiana consider the investigation “intense and ongoing,” according to public information officer Trooper John Matchik.

“This could be the initial phase of a significant investigation, and we won’t rule out the possibility of additional charges or additional victims,” he said.

Candidates for the Indiana Area school board picked up Wednesday night where the school directors ended their agenda of business earlier this week, weighing in critically on the plans to hold a tax referendum and realign attendance at the district’s four elementary schools.

Sanctioned by the Indiana Foundation for Education community group, the forum brought together four of the six candida